China hid SARS patients - report

cnn.com ^ | Friday, April 18, 2003

[CathyRyan]

BEIJING, China -- Beijing authorities have gone to staggering lengths to hide SARS patients from visiting World Health Organization (WHO) inspectors, according to TIME magazine. At one of the most reputable of the city's hospitals, 31 patients suffering the potentially lethal disease were driven around in ambulances for the duration of the WHO visit, said TIME. And at a military hospital, 40 SARS patients were said to have been moved to a hotel for the duration of the WHO tour, in an apparent attempt to deceive inspectors about the true extent of the outbreak. The timing of the revelations could prove a major embarrassment to the Chinese government. On Friday, China's President Hu Jintao called on authorities to provide full support for SARS research and to cooperate with international agencies

[CathyRyan]

This article is aristeides find. I am just posting it. aristeides is getting ready for work and do not have the time.

[ex-Texan]

Methinks the fact their is a strong link to the Chinese Army (PLA) -- and now the fact that ChiComs are trying to hide PLA SARS victims from an investigation -- this speaks volumes about whether this disease might have escaped from a secret lab in China.

The Chinese cerainly small dirty. JMHO folks. Feel free to flame away.

[CathyRyan]

Back awhile ago there was an article that said that the chinese were moving civilian sars patients to military hospitals. It might be they are using military hospitals as isolation facilities. So I did not know how much you can read into it. If you like I can *try* find the article. It may take me all day.

[Judith Anne]

Cathy, I can confirm what you say. Pretty sound speculation, that the Chinese are hiding SARS victims in military hospitals, imho. Military hospitals do not have to report SARS numbers to WHO or anybody, as I recall.

And we must never forget, Beijing wants the Olympics. The motive for this gross and dangerous deception is clear.

[CathyRyan]

Thank you! I was not thrilled to spend the day looking but I would have. :)

[gridlock]

There is no need to posit a biowar break-out to explain the suspicious Chinese behaviour. They would behave exactly the same way for a completely innocent outbreak of a natural disease.

You see, there is no such thing as suffering, disease or death in the People's Paradise.

Add to that natural inclination the fact that they are all going mad polishing the turd for the 2008 Olympics, and there is no way on Earth they are going to tell the truth about SARS.

You have the makings of a Rainbow Six plot-line without even having to bother with the enviro-madmen. The Chinese will manage to kill the planet by accident!

[Judith Anne]

No need to go to that fuss. ;-D Those of us who have been reading these articles for over a month, searching them out and comparing the information in one to information in another DO have an advantage over some readers who haven't yet heard much about SARS...the new readers are welcome to do a search for Mother Abigail, or per loin, or you, or aristeides, and come up with some of the basic earlier information.

[ex-Texan]

Perhaps you meant this report? It says that hundreds more Chinese in the military have probably died in secret hospitals.

The officially reported number of deaths from SARS in China is 50. The article says it is at least 200.

There is an effort to keep a loud "silence" in China. This smells of a Top Secret program ... and the cat's out of the bag now.

[tallhappy]

To all. Please see this post where I stated in early February that there were already 280 dead in China of what was then called atypical pneumonia and many more medical personnel infected.

(note also the post was attacked as bogus by someone who regularly posts Chinese communist propaganda).

Now that was early February and covered mainly cases in the southern regions of China, prior to widespread dissemination to Beijing.

It's easy to see there should be significantly more cases today.

The communists try to hide anything and everything that they feel might make them look bad. This is an example.

And we are well aware that CNN or other news organizations will play along with despotic regimes for access.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The true face of Chinese Communism.

[mabelkitty]

Their import/export show is in two weeks.

It is their biggest business show of the year.

[CathyRyan]

Back in March or early April there was a article about a chinese family where one of its members contracted sars. The family member was first in a civilian hospital and them moved to a military hospital. The article stated that civilians were being moved to military hospitals. I am not sure if this bug is man made or nature made. I do not have the expertise to say.

[aristeides]

Thanks for posting this, Cathy. I wonder what the true numbers in China are.

[aristeides]

Would not be surprising if this disease had especially struck the military in China. Soldiers tend to live in conditions where diseases easily spread. The 1918 Spanish flu is said to have started on military bases.

[riri]

JMHO folks

I absolutely agree.

[aristeides]

SARS may turn out to be Red China's Chernobyl.

By the way, Chinese health minister Zhang Wenkang turns out to be a buddy of Clinton's appointee to head the CDC, Jeffrey Koplan.

[Judith Anne]

"...turns out to be a buddy of Clinton's appointee to head the CDC, Jeffrey Koplan."

Surprise, surprise.

[tallhappy]

Their reaction and cover up and lies with regard to SARS is typical.

But it is not a major threat or danger. It is way overhyped.

Chinese communists torture more people to death everyday than die of SARS.

Truth is their greatest enemy.

[Judith Anne]

Uh-oh...Two weeks? This should be getting WAY more publicity....

[riri]

If we were as evil as the rest of the world makes us out to be we'd find the cure and keep it all to ourselves.